 |
6
Under a deadline, those winning tickets would then be forwarded to an address printed in the rules, which would also be printed on the inside of the cartons. Upon receipt by the representatives of the Coca-Cola Company, they would all, or at least a representative percentage, be placed in a bin for a final drawing to determine the Grand Prize Winner and also the winners of the lesser major prizes. All tickets remaining after the drawing (9,812 of them) would each be worth $25.00.
The name of the game, “ELIMINATION”, is derived from the fact that as each team is eliminated from possibly being a wining ticket, in other words no chance of playing in the World Series, then those tickets would be eliminated and discarded.
I have saved the best for the last, as I consider this next “invention” as the accomplishment of which I am the most proud.
The geological elevation of the land on which my house was built is under 10 feet, and I had trouble with water accumulating in my back yard during heavy rainstorms. Although I have never had water rise high enough to enter my house through my doors, it did come close once. So I set out to devise a contrivance that would prevent such a thing from happening.
After much thought, I came up with what I called “The Cronkboard”. In order to keep the details from boring you, suffice it to say that I created a barricade made from a piece of 3/4 inch plywood cut to a size that would overlap the opening on both sides and at the bottom. I glued hot water pipe insulation tubes on three sides thereof and made the entire board waterproof. It was installed by compressing the board against the outside of the doorway to prevent water from entering. I used an automobile bumper jack braced against a two-by-four for compression.
Although, as I said, the water never rose high enough to enter my house, the board remains completely untested, however I am convinced that it will prevent my house from flooding in the event of high water. These coverings could be used only on concrete block homes, and could not be used on houses with French doors, garages, or homes with wooden floors, nor could they be used on modular homes. From all of my calculations, and the waterproof construction thereof, I remain convinced that it will do the job, and I continue to keep it handy in case of future emergencies.
CHAPTER SIX
After I met Inez in Savannah; after I reported to Tampa for further processing in the U.S.A.A.F.; and after she arrived in Tampa and we were married, it was necessary to set up housekeeping. We obtained housing in a complex that was reserved exclusively for military personnel. It was the Maritime Homes in the Hookers Point area. We paid thirty dollars a month for rent for a two bedroom furnished apartment, which included lights and water. My monthly salary at that time was seventy-six dollars a month, plus a small allowance for being married and living off-base.
It was just a short time after the war ended in Japan that I was discharged from the service. My separation date was October 24, 1945. When it came time for us to leave Tampa, we decided to visit my two sisters in Miami, so we boarded a Greyhound bus for the trip. After a visit of about three days, we proceeded on to Savannah to visit our parents. This has already been discussed in the earlier pages of this book, but I am elaborating on it now. After my attempts to become a radio announcer failed, I was employed by the Naval Air Station Separation Center working in the officer’s separation unit. While I was working there, our son, Robert Norwood Cronk, Jr., was born. After approximately eleven months there, I later became employed by Firestone and the Post Office, and during this time our daughter Shirley Ann Cronk was born, nine years after Robert, Jr.
It was also during this time that I took flying lessons on the G.I. Bill and received my Private Pilot’s License, which I still hold. I actively flew airplanes for the next thirty-five years, having partly owned the planes I flew. This was accomplished by my belonging to several flying clubs. Among my flights was a trip to Nassau, Bahamas, Severville, Tennessee, and one to Pensacola, Florida. Most of my local flights were at night while the air was more stable. I have never lost my love for flying, and if I were to hit the Lotto, an airplane would still be the first thing I would buy.
At about age thirty-eight, I began learning to play the game of golf. I still play about once a week, and you would think after about forty years of playing, that I would be an accomplished golfer by now.
The truth is that I am probably a terrible golfer, finding it difficult sometimes to keep my score below one hundred strokes. Never-the-less, I find the game to be relaxing and enjoyable, and I am upset when the weather prevents me from playing on my designated day each week.
While living in Jacksonville and working for the Post Office in 1953, I had the misfortune to have a severe attack of stomach cramps. Upon consultation with a doctor, it was determined that I had a peptic ulcer in my stomach, and surgery was required. Since I was a WW-2 veteran, I went to the Veteran’s Hospital in Lake City, Florida, where I had two-thirds of my stomach removed.
When I was working as a mail carrier, I was an extremely thin person weighing only 135 pounds. At the time I had my stomach operation, I dropped down to 118 pounds. After the surgery, I gained my weight back to 135, and a year or two later I increased it to 145. I remained at that weight until about five years before my retirement, when my weight went to 155 and stayed there until I retired.
My life was filled with good times, for example, when I owned a boat, vacations, and flying. There were many events that happened during these times, but which I will not elaborate on at this time. For example, several close calls with my airplane when the engine quit in the air.
I do remember one instance, however, while I lived in Jacksonville. Inez and I were selected (in the early 1950’s) to be the contestants on a local television show called “Second Honeymoon”. We were successful in winning the competition, and in addition to receiving several very nice prizes, we also won an all expense trip to Miami Beach, including a rental car. The thing that made me remember this trip so vividly was on the drive back to Jacksonville on U. S. 1 somewhere around Stuart, Florida, the unthinkable happened.
We were traveling about sixty miles per hour when all of a sudden an automobile backed out onto the highway from behind a parked truck. We had no advance notice of this, and traffic was fairly heavy going in both directions. I blew my horn and the vehicle stopped right in the middle of my traffic lane. It was not enough time to stop, so I swerved to the left, then back to the right, narrowly missing an approaching car in the other lane. Our son “Robbie”, who was asleep on the back seat, awakened to the commotion. In all of my seventy-seven years, I have never come so close to death, even taking into consideration my flying experiences, as I did that day.
Robert, Jr., was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on July 22, 1946, and attended his fifth grade of school in three different cities, those being Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa. Upon his graduation with honors from Chamberlain High School in Tampa in 1964 (number nine in a class of 638 kids), he left home to attend Georgia Tech University. He went there on the co-op plan, where he worked three months, then attended school for three months. The money he earned working, plus a scholarship loan, paid for his college costs. He majored in Physics and received his B.A. in that field. When he returned for his advanced schooling, he majored in Computer Science, and received his Masters Degree in that field. It was this type of computer work of which his career was founded. Robert, Jr., was married on 8/5/1978, to Carolyn Ruth ENGLUND (born 8/16/1956), and they, together with their son, Wesley Alford CRONK (born 11/06/1986), live in Monument, Colorado. His other son, Robert Jason CRONK (born 4/25/1970), was the product of Renee GROSS Cronk Ashley (1st wife), and lives in Tampa, Florida,
Inez continued her role as housewife, mother, and wife to her husband (me). Even though she, at one time, wanted to get an outside job, we both thought it best that she remain home with our two children to provide a nurturing environment for them. From the way our two children developed into adults, it was a decision that now has proven merit. We are very proud of our children, and love them tremendously.
Shirley, after graduation (also with honors) from Jefferson High School in 1973, attended the Hillsborough Community College, the campus of which was located in Drew Park near the Tampa International Airport. There she met her husband to be, Stephen H. Spencer, and they were married on March 22, 1978. Steve worked for the General Telephone and Electronics (G.T.E.) Company in Tampa,, but shortly after their marriage, transferred to Plant City, Florida. There they purchased 10 acres of land, and had a house built thereon, and continue to live in it until this day. Shirley and Stephen both obtained Associate Degrees (Two Years), and then produced two of the finest children ever born. When these two boys started their teens, Shirley returned to school, and received her B. A. Degree in Accounting from the University of South Florida. She is now employed by Case Contracting Company in Plant City. Steve is still with the telephone company, now called Verizon.
Our family life has been a very happy one since the day Inez and I married each other, and even more so after the births of our children, which made our lives complete. Although I have never commanded a high salary, what I did earn was sufficient to see us through our needs. We did not have any money to squander, but at the same time, by being a bit frugal, we managed nicely.
My wife, Inez, has been a jewel to live with. She has provided me all the necessities, love and support for which my jobs required. And they were provided with love and affection. Our home has been filled with love since its existence, and that includes both parents and children.
In fact, I recently wrote a poem to Inez, with every word straight from my heart.
AN ODE TO MY WIFE
BY ROBERT N. CRONK, SR.
I have SEEN with my own eyes,
The wondrous things you are,
And how your love is oft expressed,
Even from afar.
Your TOUCH is like a breath of spring,
Warm and gentle to my hand,
The feeling of God’s greatest gift,
Is your effect on man.
I TASTE your loveliness every day,
And wonder if it is true,
How can one person be so good,
To be as good as you.
I SMELL your nearness in every way,
The sweetness of your being,
Like bouquets of beautiful flowers,
That enhance touching and seeing
The SOUNDS that come from you alone,
Cause me to hear no other,
I am proud to call you mine,
My wife, my friend, my lover.
No need for me to tell you now,
My SENSES are all askew,
I blame it all on your thoughts,
So unselfish, so pure, so true.
We are now living out the remainder of our lives, still enjoying life, still enjoying each other, and still very much in love. We realize we do not have too many years left on this earth, but we thank God for providing us a life of at least mediocrity, rather than a life of squalor, hard work and hard times.
Now we are at the end of this record of events that composed the life of Robert Norwood Cronk, Sr. Regardless of whether you believe that I led a dull, humdrum life, or an active life of which I can be proud, really makes no difference. If I were to change my life in any way, it would be only that I regret the fact that, like so many successful and high paid people, I was not one of them. However, In no way would I change anything about my marriage and my children, nor the fact that my life was free of crime, hatred, and poverty, and I am very proud of that.
Thanks for sharing my life, my mostly good times and my few bad times. If the rest of my life is anywhere near similar to that which has already transpired, then that alone will assure me of my having lived an exemplary and therefore successful life.
NOT THE END
BUT THE BEGINNING
OF THE REST OF MY LIFE
First Page of Autobiography
Return to Home Page
Send E-Mail to:
Copyright © 2007 Robert N. Cronk. All Rights Reserved